Brussels, the city that revolves around the fantastic Grand Place and where it is a sin to leave without trying its waffles, craft beer, chocolate ormoules-frites. We know there are many things what to see and do in Brussels, although we have made a list of the 50 that we liked the most, based on the two visits we have made to the city: the first combining it with Bruges and the second with Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp.
1. Find the Jardin du Petit Sablon, a square with a small garden with a lot of charm.
2. Try the Belgian homemade food at C'Est Bon C'Est Belge Le Cellier, the Carbonnades flamandes (meat stewed in Belgian beer) and the meatballs, very good. To have the best dining experience we recommend you follow this list of restaurants where to eat in Brussels well and cheaply.
3. Make a hole to see the Manneken Pis, one of the brussels symbols.
4. Approach to Mini Europe, near the Atomium, a miniature Europe with almost 350 models, some of them spectacular. You can book the ticket here in advance to avoid the lines.
5. Have a few beers in Delirium, with a great atmosphere and countless types of beer.
6. Pass several times through La Grand Place, day and night, the most beautiful square in the world and the place you have to see in Brussels most essential.
A good option to learn more about the history of the city is to book this free tour of Brussels with a guide in Spanish. Free!
Grand place
7. Enter the Comic Museum. If you like Tintin this is your place.
8. Visit the Courthouse for free, with its lobby over 100 meters high, one of the most impressive buildings in Europe.
9. Book a day for an excursion to Ghent, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe. Without a doubt, one of the 5 best tours and excursions in Brussels.
10. Tour the shops of Galleries Saint Hubert, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
More things to see and do in Brussels
11. See the atmosphere of Rue des Bouchers, full of restaurants for tourists.
12. Enter the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, in the Koekelberg district, with its impressive green dome. One of the best places to see in Brussels.
13. Visit the European Parliament. The visits last about 30 minutes and can be done with a multimedia guide in Spanish. Besides, they are free!
14. Have a beer (rather than eat) in Le Roy d'Espagne, overlooking the Grand Place. One of the best things to do in Brussels.
15. Take a day trip to Bruges. Known as "The Venice of the North" it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one of the essential places to see in Belgium.
Witches
16. See the facade of the impressive Hotel de Ville, the jewel of the Grand Place and one of the essential places to visit in Brussels.
17. Dinner the typical mussels with french fries (moules-frites) in Le Marmiton.
18. Visit the gothic church of Notre Dame du Sablon with its impressive stained glass windows, one of the best things to see in Brussels.
19. Find the hidden Jeanneke Pis, between numbers 10 and 12 of Impasse de la Fidélité Street, the female replica of Manneken Pis.
20. Disconnect from the city doing some running in the Brussels Park.
21. We recommend staying near the train station, especially if you are going to visit cities like Bruges or Ghent. The Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi Hotel was our hotel and although it is 15 minutes from downtown, it has a very good quality / price ratio.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods we recommend you check this post of where to stay in Brussels.
22. Approaching the European quarter to see the Berlaymont building where there is the headquarters of the European Commission, we can also find a piece of the Berlin wall.
23. Visiting the Cathedral of San Miguel and Santa Gúdula, the baroque pulpit, the stained glass windows and the Grenzing organ are worthwhile.
If you prefer to forget about preparations or have little time, you can book the best tours and excursions in Brussels Spanish
If you prefer to forget about preparations or have little time, you can book the best tours and excursions in Brussels Spanish24. Cross the triumphal arch of the Palacio del Cincuentenario, with its bronze quadriga.
More things to see in Brussels
25. Touch the worn arm of the bronze statue of Everard t'Serclaes, next to The Grand Place. They say it brings luck, so it's worth a try.
26. Take the metro to visit the Brussels Atomium, one of the most famous monuments in the city. You can book the ticket here in advance to avoid the lines.
Atomium
27. See the collection of Manneken Pis costumes at the Maison du Roi, in the Grand Place.
28. If we have little time to book the tourist bus to visit the main Brussels landmarks.
29. Enter the Godiva chocolate shop in the Grand Place, the first that opened this brand in the world, and sin buying some chocolates. One of the best things to do in Brussels.
30. Visit the Autoworld museum at the Palacio del Cincuentenario, one of the best car collections in the world.
31. Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
32. Buy a comic or a Tintin figurine at the Comic Museum or at the Tintin Boutique near the Grande Place.
33. Approaching the Porte du Hal, the only one of the seven remaining doors of the medieval era of the walled city of Brussels.
34. Visit Leuven, the city with the most beautiful city hall in the world.
35. Make the route of the comic, one of the best things to see and do in Brussels.
Comic Book Route, one of the best things to see and do in Brussels
36. Find Le Pigeon in numbers 26 and 27 of La Grand Place, where Victor Hugo stayed.
37. Go up to the terrace of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and have the city at your feet. One of the sights you have to see in Brussels.
38. Have a few beers at La Mort Subite, a Brussels classic.
39. Enter the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, one of the best museums of this type in the world.
40. Go shopping on Rue Neuve, the pedestrian and most commercial street in Brussels.
More things to do in Brussels
41. Feel in the east when you reach the area of the Japanese Tower, the Chinese Pavilion and the Museum of Japanese Art.
42. See the Old England, an Art Nouveau building where the Musical Instruments Museum is located.
43. Pass in front of the Bolsa building, one of the most impressive buildings in the city.
44. Eat a waffle, near the Manneken Pis there are many stalls, and they are very good.
waffles
45. Visit between June and September the Royal Palace, where the kings currently live.
46. Take a walk through the Cinquantenaire Park, in the European Quarter.
47. Go down to the ruins of the Coudenberg Palace, under the Royal Place.
48. If we have one day left, we can book a tour to visit Antwerp, with a beautiful historic center and a worthwhile excursion.
For more information you can read this post on how to go from Brussels to Antwerp.
49. Go out for dinner at Place Ste. Catherine, full of restaurants and with a lot of atmosphere.
50. If you haven't had enough to see the Manneken Pis and the Jeanneke Pis, you can always look for the Zinneke Pis, in dog version.
Book your transfer Airport ⇆ Brussels Center here
- Excursion to Bruges and Ghent
- Excursion to Bruges
- Ghent excursion
- Excursion to Antwerp
- Amsterdam excursion
- More excursions and tours here
If you feel like helping us complete the list of 50 things to see and do in Brussels, add yours in the comments.
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Brussels guide in one day
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Brussels guide in one day
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